Packing mechanism for filling a gap between an ejection head and cap member

Abstract

A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising a plurality of nozzles, an ejection head capable of ejecting a liquid through the nozzles, a cap member that is capable of being brought into contact with the ejection head so as to maintain or regain initial ejection characteristics of the nozzles, a packing member with a changeable volume that is capable of being packed into a gap between the cap member and the ejection head, and a driving unit that is capable of changing the volume of the packing member.

1. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of nozzles; 
 an ejection head capable of ejecting a liquid through the nozzles; 
 a cap member that is capable of being brought into contact with the ejection head so as to maintain or regain initial ejection characteristics of the nozzles; 
 a packing member with a changeable volume that is capable of being filled into a gap between the cap member and the ejection head; and 
 a driving unit that is capable of changing the volume of the packing member, 
 wherein the packing member is provided to at least one of the ejection head and the cap member, 
 wherein the packing member is a portion of a gel material that is capable of being forced out of an internal space of the at least one of the ejection head and the cap member, and 
 wherein the driving unit is a thrust mechanism that is capable of changing the volume of the gel material to be forced out of the internal space. 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cap member has a frame-like portion that may be brought into contact with the ejection head in such a manner as to enclose the nozzles, and 
 wherein the packing member may be filled into a gap between the frame-like portion and the ejection head. 
 
     
     
       3. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ejection head is a line head. 
     
     
       4. A liquid ejecting apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of nozzles; 
 a line head capable of ejecting a liquid through the nozzles; 
 a cap member that is capable of being brought into contact with the ejection head so as to maintain or regain initial ejection characteristics of the nozzles; 
 a packing member with a changeable volume that is capable of being filled into a gap between the cap member and the ejection head; and 
 a driving unit that is capable of changing the volume of the packing member; 
 wherein the packing member is provided to at least one of the line head and the cap member, 
 wherein the packing member is a portion of a gel material that is capable of being forced out of an internal space of the at least one of the ejection head and the cap member, and 
 wherein the driving unit is a thrust mechanism that is capable of changing the volume of the gel material to be forced out of the internal space. 
 
     
     
       5. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the cap member has a frame-like portion that may be brought into contact with the ejection head in such a manner as to enclose the nozzles, and 
 wherein the packing member may be filled into a gap between the frame-like portion and the ejection head.